Thomas Schippers leads a cast of exceptional Verdians, headed by Antonietta Stella as Amelia and Jan Peerce as Riccardo—the married woman and the king whose forbidden love leads to tragedy. Robert Merrill is Renato, Amelia’s husband and Riccardo’s best friend and advisor, who gets drawn into the plot to kill the king. Jean Madeira is the fortune teller Ulrica, who predicts the drama’s deadly outcome, and Laurel Hurley sings the page, Oscar.

Returning for the holidays, this season's family entertainingment is richard Jone' witty production of Humperdinck's fairy-tale opera, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, in whcih two children facre against a wicked witch.